Karen and John Shields of Michelin­starred Smyth + The Loyalist

to create Chicago Voices Gala dinner Saturday, February 4, 5:00pm at Lyric’s Civic Opera House

Chicago (01/18/17) – Lyric Opera of Chicago proudly announced thathusband and wife duo Chefs Karen and John Shields of Chicago basedMichelin­starred Smyth + The Loyalist will design a 3­course gourmet dinnerexperience for guests attending the February 4 Chicago Voices Gala Concert.This exclusive dinner opportunity has a limited number of seats available anddinner packages, including Gala Concert tickets and other benefits areavailable now by calling Lyric’s Women’s Board at (312) 827­5681 or emailingwboffice@lyricopera.org.

Chef John Shields spent two years serving as sous chef at the world­renowned Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago before continuing his career with ChefGrant Achatz at Alinea as sous chef in 2005. During his two years there,Alinea grew from an exciting upstart to one of the best restaurants in theworld.

Karen Urie Shields worked as sous pastry chef for two years at TRU underJames Beard Award­winning Pastry Chef, Gale Gand. Urie Shields gainedincredible experience working under Gand and soon moved to CharlieTrotter’s where she rose through the ranks to become head pastry chef of therenowned restaurant.

Chefs John and Karen decided to return to Chicago to open Smyth + TheLoyalist in August of 2016. Smyth received its first Michelin star just 3 monthsafter opening.

The Chicago Voices Gala Concert Evening begins with cocktails at 5:00 p.m.,

FROM:Lisa MiddletonDirector of Marketing

MEDIA INQUIRIES:

Holly H. Gilsonhgilson@lyricopera.org312­827­5939

Magda Krancemkrance@lyricopera.org312­827­5924

Kamaria Morriskmorris@lyricopera.org312­827­5928

#ChicagoVoices

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followed by dinner service at 6:00 p.m., with dining options that include seatingin private mezzanine level boxes and in Lyric’s luxurious Graham Room. TheGala Concert celebration commences at 7:30 p.m., with an exclusive afterparty for all Gala guests directly following the main stage performance.

The Chicago Voices concert features performances from world renownedsoprano and Lyric’s creative consultant Renée Fleming, legendary folksinger/songwriter John Prine, “New Queen of Blues” artist ShemekiaCopeland, world­renowned tenor Matthew Polenzani, alternative/indiehusband–and­wife duo The Handsome Family, vocal superstar MichelleWilliams, Broadway’s Jessie Mueller with more artists to be announced soonis sure to be an unforgettable night, celebrating the city we love – Chicago.

About Lyric Opera of Chicago

Lyric Opera of Chicago’s mission is to express and promote the life­changing, transformational, revelatory

power of great opera. Lyric exists to provide a broad, deep, and relevant cultural service to Chicago and

the nation, and to advance the development of the art form.

Founded in 1954, Lyric is dedicated to producing and performing consistently thrilling, entertaining, and

thought­provoking opera with a balanced repertoire of core classics, lesser­known masterpieces, and new

works; to creating an innovative and wide­ranging program of community engagement and educational

activities; and to developing exceptional emerging operatic talent.

Under the leadership of General Director, President & CEO Anthony Freud, Music Director Sir Andrew Davis,

and Creative Consultant Renée Fleming, Lyric strives to become The Great North American Opera

Company for the 21st century: a globally significant arts organization embodying the core values of

excellence, relevance, and fiscal responsibility.

To learn more about Lyric’s current season, go to lyricopera.org. You can also join the conversation with

@LyricOpera on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. #Lyric1617 #LongLivePassion

The Chicago Voice Gala Benefit Concert and After Party is generously made possible by Lead Sponsor Liz Stiffel; Supporting Sponsor J.

Thomas Hurvis; Lead Corporate Sponsor Kirkland & Ellis LLP; Diamond Record Sponsors ITW, Brent and Katie Gledhill, Kohler Co., John

D. and Alexandra C. Nichols, The Crown Family, and Mr. and Mrs. Patrick G. Ryan; Platinum Record Sponsors Fifth Third Bank, Mr. and

Mrs. J. Christopher Reyes, Rita and Herbert Z Gold Charitable Trust; Gold Record Sponsors Mr. and Mrs. Michael P. Cole, Carl and

Marilynn Thoma, and Hal Coon; with additional support from the Lavin Family Foundation.

Chicago Voices is made possible by major support from J. Thomas Hurvis and Parent Power Chicago, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation,

and the Ford Foundation. This project is partially supported by The Chicago Community Trust, an IncentOvate Grant from the City of

Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, and the Eisen Family Foundation.

Lyric Unlimited was launched with major catalyst funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and receives major support from the Caerus

Foundation, Inc.

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